Safety-razor.



E. E. MURPHY. SAFETY RAZOR. APPLICATION FILED 00124. 1910.

Patented Oct. 31, 191771.

' different construction of EDWRD E. MURPHY, OF WINCHESTER, MASSACHUSETTS.

SAFETY-RAZOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 31, 1911.

Application led October 24, 191,0. Serial No. 588,863.

To all 'whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD E. MURPHY,4

of Winchester, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Safety-Razors, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a safety razor the blade of which is arranged substantially at right angles with the handle and is accompanied by a guard plate having guard fingers which project outwardly beyond the cutting edge or edges of the blade and are recessed near their outer ends so that their outer ends and inner sides are separated from the cutting edge and inner side of the blade to form a pocket adapted to receive the hair and lather removed from the face in shaving, the material removed from the face passing freely into the pocket without obstructing the cutting edge.

The invention has for its chief object to enable the outer ends of the guard lingers to be adjusted relatively to the cutting edge or edges of the razor blade, so that the closeness of the cut maybe regulated by the user of the razor.

The invention also has for its objectto provide an improved construction of a guard plate for a safety razor, and an improved construction of the frameA which holds the blade\and the plate, the improved frame construction providing for the convenientl assemblage and separation of parts of the razor and for the secure confinement of said parts in their proper relative positions when the razor is adapted for use.

The invention consists in the improvements which I will now proceed to describe and claim.

Of the accompanying drawings which form a part of this specication,-Figure 1 represents'a side elevation of asafety razor embodying my invention; Fig. 2 represents a section son line 2-2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 represents a section on line 3 3 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 represents a side view of the guard plate shown in Figs. 1 and 2; Fig. 5 represents a section on line 5-5 of Fig. 4; Fig. 6 represents a side view of the blade used in the construction shown in Figs. 1 2 and 3; Fig. 7 represent-s a longitudinal section of the frame portion of the razor, showing a said portion, the guard plate and blade being removed; Fig. 8 represents a section similar to Fig. 3 showing a different embodiment of the invention; Figs. 9 and 10 represent respectively a side and top view showing certain` modifications in the construction of the frame; Figs. 11

land 12 represent side views of the members of the frame shown by Figs. 9 and 10; and Fig. 13 represents a sectional view showing my invention embodied in a razor, the blade of which has but one cutting edge.

Similar reference characters indicate the same or similar parts in all the figures.

Referring first to Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive, 12 represents a blade rest, and 13 represents a back separated from the blade rest by a space of sufficient width to receive the blade and guard plate, hereinafter described. The rest 12 and back 13 are connected at their end portions by suitable connections which, with the rest and back, constitute the frame of the razor, the connections being of such nature that sufficient movement of one of the parts termed the rest'and back, relatively to the other, is permitted, to enable the blade and guard plate to be conveniently applied and removed. In this embodiment of the invention, one of the said connections is a rigid arm 15 formed on one end of the rest i 12 and having an orifice which receives a tenon 17 on one end of the back 13. The

other connection is a resilient arm 18 formed on the opposite end of the rest 12 and adapted to pass through an orifice 19 in the corresponding end of the back, the arm 18 having a hook 20 adapted to spring into engagement with the outer side of the back 13. When the arm 18 is pressed back from the position shown, the back 13 may be readily removed from the rest 12.

21 represents the blade, whichin this case is double edged, its cutting edges projecting outwardly from the rest 12 on which one side of the blade bears.

22 represents the guard plate, which is of resilient sheet metal" cut at its edges to form two series of guard lingers 23. The body portion of the plate 22 is separated from the blade along the longitudinal center of the guard, and bears on the blade at opposite sides of said longitudinal center. The preferred form of plate 22, whereby this result is secured, is that shown in Figs. 4 and 5, where the body portion of the plate is shown as arched to raise its central portion above the adjacent side of the blade and depress its marginal p'ortions to form bearing-portions 24 resting on the blade. The

guard fingers 23 are curved to form recesses 25 in their under sides, that is, the sides which face the inner side of the blade. rIhe cutting edges of the yblade projectoutwardly beyond the portions 24 of the plate which bear on the blade, cso that the sidesfof the blades adjacent to the cutting edges thereof form sides of pockets adapted to receive lather and hair removed from the face, the cutting edges being unobstructed.

Owing to the flexibility of the plate 22 and the fact that its central portion is raised above the blade, the plate is adapted to be flexed by pressing its raised central portion toward the blade. 'Ihis fixture causes an adjustment of the outer ends of the guard lingers relatively to the cutting edges of the blade, that is, when the cent-ral portion of the guard is pressed inwardly toward the blade, the outer ends of the guard lingers are moved outwardly, as indicated by arrows in Fig. 2, and permit the blade to make a closer cut.

The back 13 is provided with adjustable clamping means bearing on the raised central portion of the plate and cause the above described adjustment of the outer ends of the guard fingers. As here shown, the said clamping means include a screw 26 and an internally threaded socket 27 formed on the back 13,- the screw being engaged with said socket and bearing at its inner end on the raised central portion of the plate 22.

When the screw 26 is turned inwardly it presses the central portion of the plate 22 toward the blade and thus moves the outer ends of the guard lingers 23 in the direction indicated by the arrows, Fig. 2. 1When the screw 26 is turned outwardlyto diminish its pressure on the plate, the resilience of the latter causes the guard fingers 23 to move inathe opposite direction from that indicated by t-he arrows, the lingers being thus adjusted relatively to the blade so that they reduce the depth of the cut. It will be seen therefore that the user of the razor is enabled, by adjusting the screw 26, to vary the depth of the cut as may be desired.

The raised central portion of theplate 22 is preferably reinforced by a lrelatively stiff .reinforcing piece 22 formed to enter a longitudinal groove formed in the plate, the screw 26 bearing on the reinforcing piece, as shown by Figs. 2 and 3. The screw 26 is preferably a part of the razor handle 29, the handle being an extension of the screw. The preferred form of the blade in this embodiment of the invention is that shown by Fig.v 6, the blade having recesses 30 in its ends adapted to receive and closely fit th'eaconnections 15 and 18 between the rest and back. The plate 22 is also provided with similar recesses 31 whichalso receive and closely Ht said connections. Provision is thus made for preventing any edgewise movements of the plate and blade when the parts are operatively connected.

In Fig. 7 I show the rest 12 and block 13 formed in a single part, the end connection corresponding to the arm 15 being a resilient arm 15a adapted to permit the back to spring outwardly from the rest, as shown by dotted lines.

In Fig. 8 I'show a construction capable of use with a razor blade 21aof the Gillette type, the blade having a plurality of holes 32, usually three in number, and the blade being relatively thin and flexible, whereas the blade shown by Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 6 is supposed to be relatively thick and stiff. To compensate for the thinness of the blade and also to enable it to be securely held in place against edgewise displacement, I provide a thin sheet metal mat 33, which is adapted to bear on the rest 1,2, and has notches 34 in its end adapted to receive and fit the connections 15 and 18 between the rest and the back 13, said mat being preferably of the same width as t-he-rest, while t-he blade is wider, so that its cutting edges project over the longitudinal edges of the Amat. The mat is provided with a series of projections or bosses 35 adapted to enter the holes 32 in the blade 21a. The engagement of the notches 34 of the mat with the connecting portions 15 and 18, prevents edgewise displacement of the mat, and the engagement of the projections 35 of the mat with the orifices 32 in the blade, prevents edgewise displacement of the blade. The combined thickness of the mat 33 and blade 21a is preferably about equal to the thickness of the blade 21. The mat 33 constitutes in effect a removable part of the bed.

In Fig. 8 I show supplemental clamping screws36 arranged at opposite sides of the socket 27, and adapted to bear on the raised portion of the plate 22 to enable a distributed pressure to be applied to said raised portion.

In Figs. 9, 10, 11, and 12, I show a frame comprising a blade rest 12 and a back 13a, these parts being connected in such manner that they may be assembled and disconnected by a movement ofy one partv in a direction parallel with the other part. The/ rest 12l is provided at its ends with upwardly projecting arms 37, having grooves 38, in their outer sides. The back 13a is provided with arms 39, having flanges 40 adapted to slide in the grooves 38, each flange 40 having at one end a stop 41, adapted to abut against one end of the arm 37, when the rest and back are in their. proper relative positions.

.In Fig. 13 I show my invent-ion embodied in a razor having a blade 21b having but one cutting edge and having a thickened or reinforced back 42. In this embodiment of the invention, the body of the plate 22, instead of bearing at two points directly on the inner side of the blade, is formed to bear at one edge portion on the back 420i? the blade, and at its other end portion on the inner side of the blade. The central portion of the plate is separated from the blade so that it is adapted to be flexed, as inv the construct-ion above described, to adjust the outer ends of the guard fingers 23. I

I claim: 1. A safety razor comprising a frame havving a blade rest and a back separated from the rest, a blade supported by the rest, a resilient plate interposed between the blade and the back," and having a central portion separated from the blade and movable sidewise toward the latter, said plate being pro- 20 vided with outwardly projecting guard tingers, and having bearing portions resting ony the blade between said central portion and the guard fingers, said fingers projecting over the cutting edge of the blade, and being recessed so that their outer ends and inner sides are separated from the cutting edge and inner side of theblade, and means carried by the back for pressing the central portion of the plate toward the blade to clamp the bearing portions against the blade and cause outward movement of the guard fingers froml the cutting edge of the blade.

2. A safety razor comprisinga frame having a blade rest and a back separated from the rest, a blade supported by the rest, a resilient plate interposed between the blade and the back, and having a central portion separated from the blade, said plate being provided with guard fingers projecting over 40 the cutting edge of the blade, and having intermediate bearing portions resting on the blade, the guard lingers being recessed so that their outer ends and inner sides are separated from the cutting edge and inner 45 side of the blade, and a clamping screw adjustably engaged with the back, and bearingV on the central portion of the plate, whereby said central portion may be pressed inwardly toward the blade to clamp the bearing portions against the blade and move the guard fingers outwardly from the cutting edge of the blade.

3. A safety razor comprising a frame having a blade rest and a back separated from the rest, a blade supported` by the rest, a resilient plate interposed between the blade and the back, and having a central portion separated from the blade, said plate being provided with guard fingers projecting over the cutting edge ofhe blade, and having intermediate bearing portions resting on the blade, the guard lingers being recessed so that their outer ends and inner sides are separated from the cutting edge and inner side of theblade, and a clamping screw adjustgreet ably engaged with the back, and bearing on the. central portion of the plate, whereby vsaid central portion may be pressed in' ing a blade rest and a back separated therefrom, a blade supported by the rest and having two cutting edges projecting from opposite edges of the rest, a resilient plate interposed between the blade and the balgand having an arched portion separated centrally from the blade, said plate being provided with two series of guard fingers pro- Qjecting over the cutting edges ofthe blade, .and

- having intermediate bearing portions ing on the blade near its cutting edges, the fingers of each series being recessed so that their outer ends and inner sides arev separated from the corresponding cutting edge and inner slide of the blade, and adjustable means carried by the back for pressing the central portion of the Vplate toward the blade to clamp the bearing portions against the blade and cause simultaneous outward movement of the two series of guard fingers from the cutting edges of the blade.

5. A safety razor comprising a framehaving a blade rest and a back separated therefrom, a blade supported by the rest and having two cutting edges projecting from opposite edges of the rest, a resilient plate interposed between the blade and the back and having an arched portion separated centrally from the blade, said plate being `provided with two series of guard fingers projecting over the cutting edges of the blade,

and having intermediate bearing portions restingv on the blade near its cutting edges,

the fingers ,of each series` being recessed so that their outer ends and inner sides are separated from the corresponding cutting edge and inner side of the blade, and adjustable means carried by the back for pressing the central portion of the plate toward the blade to clamp the bearing portions against the blade and cause simultaneous outwar'd movement of the two series of guard fingers from the cutting edges of the blade, the platebeing longitudinally grooved and provided with a reinforcing piece tting said groove and forming a bearing for the clamping means.

6. A safety razor comprising a frame composed of a blade rest, a back, and connections 'etween the ends of the rest and back pernitting movements of one 'relatively to the other, said connections having provisions for conining the rest and back against relative movement, and spaced apart from each other, a blade bearing on the rest, a plate interposed between the rest and back and provided with outwardly projecting guard ngers, a raised imperforate central portion, and blade-engaging portions at opposite sides oi said central portion, and clamping means adjustably engaged with the back between its end portions and adapted to bear on the raised central portion of the vplate and press its blade-engaging portions afajnst the blade, a movement of the central p yrtion of the plate toward the blade causfing an adjustment of the guard fingers away from the blade.

7. A safety razor comprising a frame composed of a blade rest, a back, and spacing connections between the` end portions of the rest and back adapted to hold said parts spaced apart and having provisions for permitting their separation, a blade and a flexible blade-confining guard plate inserted in said space, the blade bearing on the rest, and the plate on the blade, and clamping means adjustably engaged with the back between its end portions and adapted to bear on the central portion of the plate and press the latter against the blade, the said connections forming stops at the ends of the space between the rest and back, and the plate and blade being provided With end recesses which are engaged by said lstops. to prevent edgewise displacement of the plate.

In testimony whereof ll have aiiiXed my signature, in presence of tWo Witnesses.

'f EDWARD E. MURPHY. Witnesses:

C. l". BROWN, P. W. Prizzn'r'ri. 

